"I want to know who leaked Elliott's identity." The words fell like shards of ice. It was not a query or a command. It was a chance for them to come clean. If any of them had done something that would reveal the man's identity, then they better confess their guilt.
Every man standing in the dimly lit room froze where he was. Even though the voice addressing them was thousands of miles away and was speaking through a screen, it was no different if he had been right there. His voice alone carried enough weight to make the air turn cold.
No one dared to move. A few exchanged nervous glances, but none spoke until one of them finally stepped forward.
"No one, Sir. No one in Anran knows about Elliott Ross being the young master," he said quickly, his voice trembling despite his attempt to sound steady.
A soft, dangerous pause followed at that declaration. "Really?" the man asked sardonically. "But someone does know, and I want to know how. Do you think they have some kind of divination power that told them?"
The silence that followed was suffocating.
"Where is Elliott's ex-manager?" the voice asked next.
A man at the back stepped hesitantly into the light with his head bowed. "Mr. Ross, I am here. I swear, I have not spoken about the young master being related to the family to anyone, not a word."
The man enshrouded in the darkness nodded. He knew the manager's loyalty and dedication, and he had his own suspicions. "That is not what I want to know. Think carefully and tell me the truth. Is there someone who might know?"
The manager's hands fidgeted at his sides. He shook his head at first, his voice weak."I have already told you everything that happened in the past, Master. Elliott was very professional. He never had any friends, entanglements, or enemies in the entertainment industry. He just focused on his work," he said.
The man scoffed at that. "Really? He did not have any enemies? Then why did that incident happen three years ago?"
The manager stopped suddenly. His eyes dropped to the floor, because that was the question he had been asking himself all these years with no answer.
As he thought of anyone who might know, he was suddenly reminded of a conversation that he'd had with Master Elliott in the past.
Even the subtle change in his expression was not missed by the man on the screen as he leaned forward and asked with narrowed eyes, "Tell me."
The manager swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Master Tristan, there was one thing I didn't mention before. I didn't think it was related. Master Elliott, as you know, was hospitalized just before the incident for appendix. During that time, he insisted on staying alone and not letting anyone hover. Because the hospital he was staying at had top-notch security, we backed away."
"After that, he mentioned meeting a girl in the hospital a couple of times, but then," he trailed off. He didn't need to continue. The incident had happened, and the girl had been forgotten among other things.
Tristan Ross said nothing, but the flicker in his eyes was unmistakable. Tristan Ross was not happy at this slip-up.
For a long moment, there was silence. The faint crackle from the speakers filled the void before Tristan finally spoke again, his tone low and cold.
"Find her."
The others hurriedly nodded when the manager asked, "Master, what about your plan to return?"
Tristan gave a cold smile at that. "That plan has been delayed for the time being. And tell my team it is time to come to Anran. Make preparations."
The others nodded at that, not daring to ask him another question as the video on the screen turned blank.
Tristan Ross disconnected the call and stared at the little cactus plant sitting on the shelf in the vanity van.
For a long while, he didn't move. Could Vanessa Grant have been the woman whom Elliott had confided in? He thought of the woman who seemed intent on getting close to him, but she had not mentioned any prior acquaintance.
All these years, the lead to the incident had been cold, but now, with Vanessa Grant coming into his life, he wondered if she could be the missing link to letting him know what could have happened to his brother.
Tristan sighed and closed his eyes. He had been ready to drop his mask as Elliott and destroy everything that remotely was suspicious but with this new link, he had a feeling that he might be able to find more about Elliott.
Just then, there was a knock on the vanity door, and Skylar entered. Within a moment, the cold face of the man changed into that of a calm one as Skylar said, "They are ready for the meeting, Elliott."
Tristan nodded and stood up. It was time to be Elliott again.